ENDEIT

Standards · 1942

Dearly Beloved chords & key

Jerome Kern

Key
C major
Form
ABAC
Bars
32
Groove
Medium swing
Time signature
4/4
Year
1942

“Dearly Beloved” is a jazz standard by Jerome Kern from 1942. Most bands play it in C major, medium swing; the tune runs 32 bars in ABAC form. Harmonically it contains 3 major ii–V–I cadences, uses 9 different chords. In this atlas it appears on 3 album tracks.

Chord changes

Showing in: Concert (C) — C major

A
Dm7
G7
Dm7
G7
Dm7
G7
Dm7
G7
B
C6
Am7
Dm7
G7
Em7
Am7
E♭m7A♭7
E♭m7A♭7
A
Dm7
G7
Dm7
G7
Dm7
G7
Dm7
G7
C
C6
Am7
D7
D7
Dm7
G7
C6
Em7A7

Changes as commonly played (concert pitch). Your band's version may differ.

Harmonic analysis

3Major ii–V–I
0Minor ii–V–i
14ii–V moves
0Tritone substitutions
0Dominant chains
9Different chords

Most used chords

  • Dm7×10
  • G7×10
  • C6×3
  • Am7×3
  • Em7×2
  • E♭m7×2

Characteristics

  • ABAC song form

Recorded on these albums

1949 Sings Songs by Jerome Kern
Bing Crosby
1971 Sun Ship
John Coltrane
2000 The Essential Collection
Bing Crosby

Historic 78 rpm recordings

Standards with similar changes

Similarity of the chord progression, independent of key.

TitleComposerKeyFormGroove
Fools Rush In 39% Rube Bloom C major ABAC · 32 Slow swing
It's You Or No One 29% Jule Styne F major ABAC · 32 Up-tempo swing
Alone Too Long 28% Arthur Schwartz G major AABA · 32 Ballad
Eclypso 28% Tommy Flanagan E♭ major AABA · 32 Latin/swing
I Like The Likes Of You 28% Vernon Duke E♭ major AABA · 32 Medium swing
The One I Love (Belongs To Somebody Else) 28% Isham Jones G major AB · 32 Medium swing
I Guess I'll Have To Change My Plan 27% Arthur Schwartz C major ABC · 20 Ballad
Falling In Love With Love 26% Richard Rodgers B♭ major AA · 64 Jazz waltz

Frequently asked questions

What key is Dearly Beloved in?

Dearly Beloved is usually played in C major. For B♭ instruments that is D major, for E♭ instruments A major.

Who wrote Dearly Beloved?

Dearly Beloved was written by Jerome Kern (1942).

What is the form of Dearly Beloved?

Dearly Beloved has 4 sections (ABAC) with 32 bars in total.

How fast is Dearly Beloved played?

The usual groove is Medium swing.

What are the chord changes to Dearly Beloved?

The opening bars are Dm7 | G7 | Dm7 | G7. The full chart above can be transposed to any key.